Sweet Dreams About Sweet Peas

At the turn of the 20th century, Sweet Peas were one of the most popular annual flowers in the United States. They were frequently on the cover of seed catalogs and many gardeners remember their Mothers and Grandmothers growing them. Eventually, they fell out of favor as they are not tolerant of hot weather but their fragrant flowers and pastel colors make a compelling case for bringing them “out of retirement”.

Sweet Peas are native to Sicily and Southern Europe and have been cultivated as far back as the 17th century. They are easy to cross-breed and a Scottish nurseryman, Henry Eckford, turned the flower into a sensation during the Victorian era in England. Eventually, Eckford was responsible for developing nearly half of the 264 varieties of Sweet Pea that were available by the early 20th century. Sweet Pea flowers come in an array of colors including blue, pink, red, purple, orange and white as well as bi-colored blooms whose beauty is rivaled by their intense fragrance.

While there are smaller varieties of Sweet Pea it is the taller vines, which can reach up to 9 feet in height, that are the more well-known. They do require a support such as a fence, trellis or a tripod to grow on and they will wrap their tendrils around the support as they reach for the sky. Just like their garden pea relatives Sweet Peas require cool weather and most will stop blooming or die when the heat of summer arrives. They can be planted outdoors in the early spring, usually around St. Patrick’s Day, but can be started indoors to get a jump-start on the growing season.

They should be planted about a ½ inch deep in rich soil that retains moisture but drains well. If you intend to plant the seed directly in the ground you should soak the seed in water for 24 hours before planting or nick the outside seed coat with a nail file to encourage faster germination. If you are planting seedlings that you started indoors be sure to minimize any damage to the roots when you are planting the seedlings as Sweet Peas really don’t like to have their roots disturbed.

Once planted it is important to keep an eye out for pests. Slugs and aphids attack them with a vengeance and they can help spread diseases. You also should space your plants at least 6 inches apart to promote good air circulation which can discourage the development of powdery mildew which can discolor the leaves and cause them to drop. To encourage prolific blooming you should harvest the flowers regularly. Sweet Peas make a great cut flower and it is best to harvest them early in the morning when their fragrance is most intense.

So, if you are looking to add a nostalgic feel to your garden this spring Sweet Peas may be the plant you’ve been dreaming of! 

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  • Fletchdeb@verizon.net May 04

    I’m in southern PA, my Sweet Pea plant made it through the winter and is growing like crazy this spring, when will it flower?

    Sweet Peas are a spring flower. It should flower in May/June timeframe. Let us know how you make out. Would love to see some photos!

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